Patient&#39;s aid device



May 19, 1970 c. AJSWANSON PATIENT S AID DEVICE Filed May 15, 1967 I N VEN TOR. C AQ E/v/LS wn/vsom/ 477-0? Eys United States Patent 3,512,189 PATIENTS AID DEVICE Carmen A. Swanson, 957 N. Mariposa Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90029 Filed May 15, 1967, Ser. No. 638,268 Int. Cl. A47c 21/00 US. Cl. 327 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The application discloses a substantially rigid, thin, L-shaped support for bed patients.

This invention has to do generally with devices used in supporting and assisting bed patients in hospitals, rest homes, sanitariums and the like.

Many problems arise in handling and supporting bed patients in hospitals, convalescent and old-age homes, particularly with elderly patients. One problem is that of supporting the patient as he lies on his side in order to maintain him in that position and at the same time make it comfortable for him. In this connection, in eye surgery and breast or chest surgery or injuries, it is necessary to keep the patient on a given side. This is normally done by means of pillows placed at the patients back, but pillows are generally not firm enough to give the required support, are easily dislodged, are often not available, and often become soiled by the patient.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved, simple, patients aid device or backrest which can readily be used to support the patient on his side and in other positions.

Another object is to provide such a device which is so designed that it is used in a position where it is not subject to being soiled by the patient, and which gives firm support. Still another object is to provide a device which supports the weight of the bed covers and keeps the weight off any chest area injuries or wounds.

A further object is to provide a device of the type indicated which is so constructed that it can be easily handled by the nurses and does not interfere with the normal procedures of caring for the patient.

Still another object is to provide a patients aid device or support which can be used in conjunction with various types of patient-restraining means such as are often required to be used on patients in order to maintain them under control.

A further object is to provide a device of the type indicated which can also be used as a support for a person sitting on the edge of the bed with his feet dangling, a position which is often recommended and required at intervals.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and the following description. Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an edge elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, but on a somewhat larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic isometric view showing the device in use on a bed.

More particularly describing the invention, numeral 11 generally indicates the patients aid device and this comprises a body 12 that is preferably made of thin sheetlike or plate-like material, such as a strong plastic. The body includes a base section 14 which is preferably substantially rectangular and need only be about 18 inches square, although this is not a critical dimension. The base section has rounded corner edges 14' at its forward edge. Extending upwardly from the rear edge of the base section and connected thereto by a curved transitional section or portion 15 is a back section 16 which extends substantially normal to the plane of the base section and terminates in an upwardly and rearwardly curved lip 17 with rounded edges 18. The back need not be as high as the width or breadth of the base section and may conveniently be between 12 and 14 inches in height.

The base section is provided with a double row of holes 19 adjacent its forward edge adapted to accommodate tie cords 20 which can be used for securing the same to the bed and preventing the device from receding away from the patient when it is being used.

Another feature of the device is the provision of a slot 22 which extends transversely of the device along the junction of the base and back sections, the slot being provided for the accommodation of conventional types of patient-restraining straps or the like, such as the one designated 23 in FIG. 3. Although it is not necessary, I may also provide a second slot, designated 24, in the base section and located relatively near the front edge thereof, that is the edge farthest from the junction of the back and base sections for the purpose of accommodating other types of restraining straps or the like.

As previously indicated, the body is preferably made of a suitable, tough, impact resistant, substantially rigid plastic so that it will be lightweight and strong and not subject to breakage. Also, for patient comfort the body may be ventilated by an over-all pattern of minute perforations 25.

In the use of the device, the base section is normally placed under the patient with the device extending from the patients hipline upwardly of the body, as best shown in FIG. 3, where a patient 26 is shown on a bed 27. The tie cords 20 prevent the device from moving away from the patient as he leans against it. Restraining straps may be passed through the slot 22 or both slots 22 and 24 may be utilized. The device is also useful in turning a patient.

The patients aid device has a further use in that it may be placed on the edge of the bed with the backrest section 16 used as a seat and the base section 14 used as a backrest for the patient.

Although I have illustrated and described a perferred form of my invention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the following claims.

-I claim:

1. A bed patients aid device comprising a unitary relatively thin, substantially rigid body formed to provide a flat plate-like base section, an upwardly curved transitional section at the back of the base section extending as a continuation thereof, and a flat plate-like back section extending upwardly from said transitional section as a continuation thereof and disposed generally in a plane substantially normal to the general plane of the base section.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 in which a relatively long, narrow slot is provided centrally in said transitional section extending transversely of the device to receive a patient restraining strap.

3. The device set forth in claim 1 in which said body is interrupted by a relatively long, narrow, centrally disposed transverse first slot in said transitional section and by a transverse second slot intermediate said first slot and the edge of the base section farthest from said back section.

4. The device set forth in claim 1 in which said base section is provided with a series of holes adjacent and parallel to the edge thereof farthest from said back section for the reception of tie cords or the like.

5. The device set forth in claim 3 in which said base section is provided with a series of holes forwardly of References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Janssen 297457 XR Bargen 297457 Bliss 297445 Garnon 5332 Goldstein 5--347 3,145,397 8/1964 Liftman 5--327 3,162,864 12/ 1964 Ouellette 297-3 84 XR 3,205,010 9/1965 Schick 297231 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,198,005 8/ 1965 Germany.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

